Ormus (Straits of Hormuz), engraved by Petrus Bertius around 1600, captures one of the most consequential maritime passages of the early modern world. Prepared in the milieu of the celebrated Caert-Thresoor first issued by Barent Langenes in 1598, this early state reflects the intense European curiosity about the gateway between the Persian Gulf and the wider Indian Ocean. The map’s vibrant palette and ornate borders frame a composition that elegantly balances political and physical detail, while a decorative cartouche announces the subject with flourish befitting the era’s pocket atlases. In Bertius’s hands, the narrows of Hormuz become a stage for commerce and rivalry, linking Persia, Arabia, and India, and illuminating the corridors along which spices, silks, and silver moved.

The coastline is drawn with careful attention, flanking the Persicus Sinus and the perilous Bahria Fretum. Place names familiar yet intriguingly transformed by Latinization dot the shores: Catiff for al‑Qatif; I. Baraem for the Bahrain archipelago; Catura for the Qatar peninsula; and Sunaim, likely a coastal tract on the Arabian side. Hormuz itself commands the straits; Bandar Abbas and Muscat, though not explicitly named, are implied by their strategic locations. Strikingly, the region of today’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi remains sparsely labeled, a candid admission of European knowledge gaps circa 1600. Inland, stylized mountains and stippled deserts suggest rugged terrains that fed caravans converging upon gulf harbors.

Anchoring the map’s significance is the historical role of Hormuz as imperial tollgate and cosmopolitan mart. Under Portuguese dominion since 1515, the island-ringed strait functioned as a hinge between Safavid Persia and the Indian Ocean, exacting duties on vessels bearing Indian spices, Arabian horses, Persian silks, and Gulf pearls. Bertius’s view lands at a pivotal moment: the Dutch and English companies were testing Portuguese supremacy, and within two decades the Anglo-Persian expedition of 1622 would oust the Lusitanians. This sheet thus distills an era when control of a narrow channel could redirect global wealth, and when intelligence about anchorages, winds, and coastal toponyms became instruments of strategy.

Bertius presents a concise geography elevated by artistry. An intricate cartouche ornaments the title, while crisp engraving delineates islands and promontories that shepherd ships toward and away from the narrows. The typographic hierarchy lets key hydronyms—Persicus Sinus and the fretum—sing out, with mountain ranges engraved in caterpillar-like relief and deserts rendered as textured expanses. Political awareness mingles with physical observation: borders are suggested by shifts in nomenclature and color, yet the draughtsman’s eye remains firmly on the coasts, where power was projected and fortunes made. The result is a portable, intelligible maritime portrait—both elegant object and practical digest of the gulf.

Petrus Bertius, a Flemish humanist and geographer, was among the most skillful synthesizers of new global intelligence in the age of compact atlases. Working closely with the Middelburg circle around Langenes, he distilled large, complex regions into lucid plates and scholarly commentary, a talent that later earned him distinction as a court cosmographer in France. His Ormus endured in print from 1598 to 1650, republished up to a dozen times across Langenes’s and his own works—longevity that testifies to its clarity and utility. Collectors prize this early state for the window it opens onto European geographic literacy at the turn of the seventeenth century, and for the poetic precision with which it frames the world’s most strategic strait.

Cities and towns on this map

• Hormuz (Iran)
• Bandar Abbas (Iran; not explicitly named but likely implied)
• Muscat (Oman; not explicitly named but likely implied)
• The map does not feature extensive town names, focusing more on geographical landmarks and bodies of water.
• Population sizes of historical settlements are difficult to ascertain accurately in relation to present demographics, but Hormuz was notably significant for trade during the period.

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Ornate borders and a decorative cartouche featuring intricate designs.
• Detailed depictions of the coastlines and geographical features.
• Major bodies of water labeled (e.g., Persicus Sinus, Bahria Fretum).
• Geographical names and topographical features (mountains, deserts).

Historical and design context

• Title of the Map: Ormus (Straits of Hormuz)
• Creation Date: 1600
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Petrus Bertius
• Context of Publication: Early state of Bertius’s depiction of the Straits of Hormuz, originally appearing in the 1598 edition of Langenes’s Caert-Thresoor.
• Notes on Publication: Features place names such as Catiff, I. Baraem, Sunaim, and Catura; few labels around modern-day Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
• Reprints: Republished multiple times (up to 12 times) between 1598 and 1650 in the works of Langenes and Bertius.
• Themes Depicted: Illustrates both political and physical features of the Straits of Hormuz, a significant geopolitical area in early modern trade routes.
• Countries/Regions Shown: Covers areas that are part of modern-day Iran, Oman, and the Persian Gulf territories.
• Design/Style: Vibrant color palette typical of early 17th-century maps.
• Historical Significance: Provides insight into the early understanding of the region and trade routes that were critical during this period.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 40in (100cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.